In the bustling city of Nanqing, situated on a vital trade route, many goods from the eastern seacoast must pass through, making the flow of commerce its lifeline. Despite the tense atmosphere, the city gates remain open, welcoming merchants from all directions. The Lord of Nanqing is but one step away from becoming a Divine General, and thus cannot establish true independence for the city as Su Dingqian once did. However, this cunning lord has adeptly navigated the web of power, earning a semi-independent status that is no small feat.
Qian Ye was about to thank the passerby and take his leave when a squad of soldiers suddenly turned the corner, hastening towards the city gate. This contingent, numbering around fifty, wore the uniforms of the Wolf King’s legion. They had not left the city but instead, working together, carried a defensive cannon to a newly constructed emplacement on the city wall.
Qian Ye’s heart stirred, and he asked, “Didn’t they say that Nanqing only nominally submits to the Wolf King? Why are there Wolf King troops here?”
The passerby replied with a touch of self-deprecation, “The Wolf King maintains a small garrison in the city, just a few hundred men, but they represent his authority. If it weren’t for the Wolf King, we’d have to deal with the Spider Emperor’s people, and wouldn’t that be the same? At least the Wolf King is part of our own human forces.”
Qian Ye nodded in agreement, recognizing that the Wolf King served under Zhang Bushou, thereby indirectly serving the human race.
At that moment, a commotion erupted nearby, with cries and curses mingling in the air. Qian Ye looked over and saw two groups engaged in a heated argument, with two Spider Demons standing out prominently.
“You think you can simply walk away after damaging our carriage?” one of the Spider Demons roared, brandishing his arms and towering over the crowd, his ferocity on full display.
Across from him stood a middle-aged man, equally furious. He shouted back, “You were blocking the entire street! We had nowhere to go! Did you expect us to crash into a wall?”
The Spider Demon sneered, “Then you should have crashed into a wall!”
Enraged, the middle-aged man burst into laughter. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! Now that my carriage is damaged, what do you want?”
As he spoke, the middle-aged man released a formidable aura, revealing himself to be a seasoned warrior.
The Spider Demon cackled, his body enveloped in a swirling black mist, clearly a Viscount. In terms of primal force, the middle-aged man held a slight edge, but the Spider Demon’s natural physical prowess, coupled with the heavy axe slung at his side, made the outcome of any confrontation uncertain. The axe was of a high grade, far superior to the middle-aged man’s sword.
The fact that the Spider Demon could wield such a high-quality weapon indicated that his status was not low. The middle-aged man, though enraged, still maintained some restraint, hoping the other party would see reason and not push things too far.
However, the Spider Demon Viscount had no intention of backing down. Pointing at the middle-aged man’s sword, he demanded, “Hand over your sword to compensate for the damage to my carriage!”
The middle-aged man was utterly incensed. With a bitter laugh, he pulled out a badge and flashed it in front of the Spider Demon, saying, “Look closely. I am a member of the Mountain Hunter Legion. I advise you to make a more reasonable demand.”
“Mountain Hunter? What is that?” The Spider Demon Viscount, clearly unfamiliar with the name, listened as one of his companions explained, “The Mountain Hunter Legion is an auxiliary force of Nanqing. Given his strength, he might be a Vice Commander or something.”
The Spider Demon Viscount snorted, “So, a member of the City Guard… hmm…”
Seeing his hesitation, the middle-aged man relaxed slightly, about to speak, when the Spider Demon Viscount suddenly raised his axe and swung it down with full force!
This strike was imbued with the power of wind and thunder, a lethal blow!
The middle-aged man, caught off guard by the sudden attack, hastily drew his sword to block, but was unable to muster his full strength. The collision produced a resounding boom, and his sword bent instantly. The middle-aged man spat a mouthful of blood, staggering backward, barely keeping his balance. In one blow, he had sustained a serious injury.
The Spider Demon Viscount also took a step back, a hint of caution in his eyes. Despite his full-powered ambush, he failed to kill the middle-aged man and was forced to retreat, his body shaking from the impact, sustaining a minor injury. In a fair fight, the middle-aged man might have had a better chance of victory.
The middle-aged man’s comrades, shocked and angry, drew their weapons, ready to charge. The middle-aged man, with great effort, commanded, “Hold it!”
After calming them, he turned to the Spider Demon Viscount and said, “I am Tian Jin, Vice Commander of the Mountain Hunter Legion. I admit defeat this time. May I ask your name? I will report this incident to the proper authorities.”
The Spider Demon Viscount sneered, “Weak humans, do you even deserve to know my name?”
Nanqing, being a predominantly human city, reacted with indignation to the Spider Demon’s words, the crowd growing restless.
The Spider Demon Viscount arrogantly scanned the crowd and jeered, “What are you yapping about? You worthless lot, is that all you can do?”
Someone in the crowd couldn’t hold back and stepped forward to challenge him. A companion grabbed him, whispering, “Don’t be rash. This guy isn’t simple!”
At that moment, several military vehicles screeched to a halt, their tires squealing. A wolfman leaped out, a scar running across half his face. Surveying the scene, he barked, “Tian Jin, what’s going on here?”
The wolfmen from the Wolf King’s Legion provided a sense of security. Tian Jin’s men quickly recounted the events, ending with, “Your Excellency, please see justice done!”
Though the Wolf King’s forces in Nanqing were few, they represented his authority. This wolfman, a Viscount, was the leader of the Wolf King’s troops in Nanqing.
He glanced at the Spider Demon Viscount and sneered, “Mire, you grow bolder. Your wounds seem to have healed completely?”
The Spider Demon Viscount laughed, “My wounds are nothing compared to yours! You should be asking me if I’m ready for another round. Do you dare to stand against me again?”
“Remember, this is Zhang Tianwang’s territory. Even with your special status, you can’t overstep the bounds.”
The Spider Demon Viscount continued to laugh, “Zhang Bushou? Who knows if he’s alive or dead? It’s been so long since anyone heard from him. You’d be better off mentioning the Wolf King.”
The wolfman Viscount remained unperturbed, “Very well, let’s not argue. How do you propose to resolve this?”
The Spider Demon Viscount grinned, pointing at Tian Jin, “Hand him over, and we’ll consider the matter settled.”
Tian Jin’s men were outraged, knowing that if he fell into the Spider Demon’s hands, he would surely die. They clamored loudly.
The wolfman Viscount frowned, “This is a difficult situation…”
“I am a special envoy of the Spider Emperor. Either you hand him over, or I leave immediately, and you can expect an army to follow.”
The wolfman’s frown deepened. He turned to Tian Jin and said, “Well, what are you waiting for? Apologize to Viscount Mire properly!”
Tian Jin paled, and Qian Ye was surprised. The Spider Demon Mire was blatantly in the wrong, yet the wolfman was demanding an apology and reparation? Could it be that the Spider Emperor had recently made a breakthrough, and the Wolf King was choosing to yield?
Tian Jin stammered, “Your Excellency, this… this…”
The wolfman Viscount snapped, “Stop hesitating and apologize! For the sake of your useless human race, you’ve offended the Spider Emperor’s envoy. No amount of apologies can make up for it. Do you want to drag the entire Nanqing into war?”
This dire warning silenced Tian Jin, and the Spider Demon laughed, “You finally see reason. When I settle in, we’ll have a proper duel. As for that Tian Jin, I’ll let it slide for the Wolf King’s sake. Kneel and apologize, and we’ll call it even.”
Qian Ye saw that Mire was asserting his dominance, but the crowd, though angry, dared not speak. Confused, he asked the passerby, “How can this be?”
The passerby smiled bitterly, “It’s always like this. Though Nanqing appears to be ruled by humans, the Wolf King’s elite, the Spider Emperor, the Moonlight White Devils—whichever alien comes, they all treat us as lesser beings. In any conflict, we’re always the losers, no matter how right we are.”
“But doesn’t the Lord of Nanqing care?”
“Lord?” The passerby spat, “The Lord only cares about his position and interests. He wouldn’t lift a finger. If it weren’t for his indulgence, these aliens wouldn’t be so bold.”
“What about the Wolf King, a subordinate of Zhang Tianwang? Why does he allow outsiders to bully our own people?”
“The Wolf King, hm, he’s an alien too. His loyalties aren’t with us. Over the years, the Heavenly King has neglected his duties, and the Wolf King has consolidated power, promoting only wolfmen. He may be fierce internally, but he cowers before other races, treating them with deference. Hmph!” The passerby was seething with anger.
Qian Ye nodded, “Sir, you are very knowledgeable. I haven’t had the pleasure of asking your name. I hope to learn more from you in the future.”
The passerby sighed and waved him off, “Knowledge is useless without the power to act. My skills are for naught; I can only vent my frustrations and do nothing practical.”
With that, he walked away, unwilling to watch the unfolding drama.
The subsequent events were predictable. The Lord of Nanqing did not intervene, and the City Guard vanished. The wolfman Viscount was resolute, and Tian Jin, with responsibilities and a family, could not defy him. He stopped his men and approached Mire, his hands trembling with each agonizing step.
The wolfman Viscount watched, his gaze cold and disdainful. The crowd, now in the hundreds, remained silent, filled with suppressed rage.
Tian Jin, despite his slow, reluctant steps, reached Mire.
Mire laughed, “What are you waiting for? Kneel! If you displease me, you’ll come with me!”
Tian Jin shuddered, his knees bending, slowly lowering to the ground.
Suddenly, a slender, elegant hand reached out, supporting Tian Jin. The hand exuded an irresistible force, lifting him up.
Tian Jin turned and saw Qian Ye.
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